Progress being made on Lowellville High School after fire

Staff report

LOWELLVILLE

The school year will start as planned Aug. 26 in spite of extensive fire, smoke and water damage to Lowellville High School, caused when lightning struck the building’s roof June 13.

Officials have estimated the overall cost of both interior and exterior repairs at $270,000, said schools Superintendent Rocco Nero.

Insurance will pay for all the repairs, Nero added.

Interior repairs such as replacement of damaged ceiling tiles and ductwork, already have begun, he said.

Nero added he’s hopeful that roof repairs — costing an estimated $150,000 — will begin today.

The early-morning fire was contained to a 150-foot strip on the peak of the school’s roof that extended down 2 feet on each side.

“Progress is really being made,” Nero said. “There’s never a good time for something like this, but we were fortunate it happened when it did.”

All the computers and other technology equipment in the building at the time of the fire are fine, Nero said, thanks to firefighters attempting to protect the items as much as they could while fighting the blaze.